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The Daily OrangeExpert points out errors in film portrayal of Spartans
By Paul Squire
Posted: 9/24/08, 12:30 AM EST Section: News
As a clip from the 2007 movie "300" played on the screen, Paul Cartledge sat in the front row and scribbled some notes on a pad of paper. He then stood up, rolled his eyes and announced, "Enough already!"
Cartledge, a University of Cambridge Greek history professor, spoke at Syracuse University Tuesday afternoon about the historical accuracy of ancient Spartans portrayed in popular culture. The event was the first of the 2008-2009 Moses I. Finley Memorial Lecture Series, which honors the memory of the '27 SU alumnus.
Cartledge focused on "300," a movie based on Frank Miller's comic series of the same name, which was inspired by an earlier 1962 film, "The 300 Spartans."
While Cartledge didn't hesitate to point out the inaccuracies in the two films, he cautioned against over-analyzing popular culture.
"It is a mistake, I think to take a movie such as '300,' which is literally cartoonish, that seriously," he said.
Cartledge did correct the historical errors with enthusiasm. He cleared up the first myth quickly: There were actually 301 Spartans including their king who made their famous last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae.
"The films should have been called 'The 301 Spartans' or '301,'" he said. "But that doesn't have the same ring, does it?"
The Spartans were also supplemented by another 700 Thespian troops who fought alongside them until the last man died, Cartledge said, but they were left out of both films.
Cartledge also said not all 301 Spartans died in the final battle. Two Spartans actually escaped before the battle began, though one hanged himself immediately out of disgrace upon his return. The other survivor threw himself onto enemy spears a year later.
Cartledge then launched into a critique of the movie "The 300 Spartans," which he called "specifically a Cold War movie." The film's attempt to compare ancient history to Cold War era events was one of its largest miss-steps, Cartledge said.
Cartledge, a University of Cambridge Greek history professor, spoke at Syracuse University Tuesday afternoon about the historical accuracy of ancient Spartans portrayed in popular culture. The event was the first of the 2008-2009 Moses I. Finley Memorial Lecture Series, which honors the memory of the '27 SU alumnus.
Cartledge focused on "300," a movie based on Frank Miller's comic series of the same name, which was inspired by an earlier 1962 film, "The 300 Spartans."
While Cartledge didn't hesitate to point out the inaccuracies in the two films, he cautioned against over-analyzing popular culture.
"It is a mistake, I think to take a movie such as '300,' which is literally cartoonish, that seriously," he said.
Cartledge did correct the historical errors with enthusiasm. He cleared up the first myth quickly: There were actually 301 Spartans including their king who made their famous last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae.
"The films should have been called 'The 301 Spartans' or '301,'" he said. "But that doesn't have the same ring, does it?"
The Spartans were also supplemented by another 700 Thespian troops who fought alongside them until the last man died, Cartledge said, but they were left out of both films.
Cartledge also said not all 301 Spartans died in the final battle. Two Spartans actually escaped before the battle began, though one hanged himself immediately out of disgrace upon his return. The other survivor threw himself onto enemy spears a year later.
Cartledge then launched into a critique of the movie "The 300 Spartans," which he called "specifically a Cold War movie." The film's attempt to compare ancient history to Cold War era events was one of its largest miss-steps, Cartledge said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jimm Cutter
posted 9/24/08 @ 12:02 PM EST
Was anyone, including
James Adams, a freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences, seriously confused about the historical accuracy of 300? What about the fact that time seemed to slow down and speed up at will in the movie? Was this from the frame of reference of the real life Spartans or was this "movie magic?" And did that gigantic monster guy with the chainsaw like hands really exist?
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